I have been working with blended learning since the 2nd half of last year. Through that time I have faced many challenges, including keeping students engaged, focused, and interested in the blended component. I have tried both a fully flipped classroom and a more blended approach (videos in the classroom and/or at home). Today I think I was able to find the happy medium by giving students a variety of choices in their learning. Each choice would achieve the same goal: the students learned the material. There's more to this that I'll explain later. I was just SO excited when I saw my classes engaged and on task almost ALL day long.
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Saving in the Cloud
Saving your documents through some sort of cloud based storage (Google Drive, iCloud, Dropbox, etc) can give you quick access to your documents (standards, lesson plans, worksheets etc). This is great if you are working on something at home and at work!
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Apps for Students
In a past resources post I offered a list of essential iPad apps for teachers. This is a followup to that article and is geared towards apps that are useful for students. All of these apps are free unless stated otherwise.
Accelerated Reader - allows students to take AR and Vocab tests. You'll just need your school/district's AR URL to get started.
Arcademic Apps - Arcademicskillbuilders.com is a great website that has arcade style skill building activities for students, everything from basic addition and subtraction practice to verbs, state capitols and more. They have a handful of apps available a couple are free and the majority are only $0.99. So they are definitely worth purchasing.
Dictionary.com - Just like you can look up anything on the web now you can also look up any word on this app. It's quick and it's free.
Dragon Dictation - you speak, it types. It's not perfect at recognizing everything that you say but it's darn close. This app is great for students who may struggle with writing as it allows them to speak and get their information typed up.
Evernote - This is an amazing digital notebook that allows not only students to keep track of everything but also teachers. I have never been more organized as an educator than I am now with Evernote. There are a handful of apps that help support Evernote that can be found at http://trunk.evernote.com This includes Evernote Peek which is a great way for students to use digital flash cards.
Google Earth - This powerful app is also available on the PC. It allows for real world problem solving through its mapping, and charting. You can also take students on virtual field trips just about anywhere in the world to reinforce the subject they are learning about.
Khan Academy - Practice, learn, watch anything. Students can add teachers as their coach, they can watch, learn and practice what they have learned.
Math Lands - This game offers math, logic and critical thinking skills
My Big Campus - Social Learning Management System App - access your mybigcampus account from anywhere. I would recommend using the full web version if at all possible as it seems to be more complete and has no trouble loading on the iPad
Looking for more apps?
50 Useful Apps for Students With Reading Disabilities
Accelerated Reader - allows students to take AR and Vocab tests. You'll just need your school/district's AR URL to get started.
Arcademic Apps - Arcademicskillbuilders.com is a great website that has arcade style skill building activities for students, everything from basic addition and subtraction practice to verbs, state capitols and more. They have a handful of apps available a couple are free and the majority are only $0.99. So they are definitely worth purchasing.
Dictionary.com - Just like you can look up anything on the web now you can also look up any word on this app. It's quick and it's free.
Dragon Dictation - you speak, it types. It's not perfect at recognizing everything that you say but it's darn close. This app is great for students who may struggle with writing as it allows them to speak and get their information typed up.
Evernote - This is an amazing digital notebook that allows not only students to keep track of everything but also teachers. I have never been more organized as an educator than I am now with Evernote. There are a handful of apps that help support Evernote that can be found at http://trunk.evernote.com This includes Evernote Peek which is a great way for students to use digital flash cards.
Google Earth - This powerful app is also available on the PC. It allows for real world problem solving through its mapping, and charting. You can also take students on virtual field trips just about anywhere in the world to reinforce the subject they are learning about.
Khan Academy - Practice, learn, watch anything. Students can add teachers as their coach, they can watch, learn and practice what they have learned.
Math Lands - This game offers math, logic and critical thinking skills
My Big Campus - Social Learning Management System App - access your mybigcampus account from anywhere. I would recommend using the full web version if at all possible as it seems to be more complete and has no trouble loading on the iPad
Looking for more apps?
50 Useful Apps for Students With Reading Disabilities
Monday, October 15, 2012
Edtech Cheat Sheet
CMS, Flipped Classroom, and Gamification, the terminology associated with educational technology is ever changing. I found this neat little cheat sheet made by Boundless. Check it out it's very informational.
Monday, July 30, 2012
Embed Websites in PowerPoint
Have you ever linked a website through PowerPoint? Do you get tired of alt+tabbing and trying to find your place, both on the web, and on your presentation? It is possible to embed live websites, as you see them on your browser in PowerPoint. The plugin that allows you to do this is called LiveWeb.
If you have any trouble with this plugin, feel free to ask for help here. I'd be glad to help you!
If you have any trouble with this plugin, feel free to ask for help here. I'd be glad to help you!
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Flexbooks
Flexbooks are free online textbooks that can be customized to meet your needs. One of the better websites that we like is http://www.ck12.org/. This website has flexbooks available in a variety of formats: computer (online view), .pdf (computer and mobile view), Kindle, and iPad. With this kind of flexibility you can find or create a book for students on just about any subject. Have you used flexbooks? Share your experience here!
Flexbooks
Flexbooks are free online textbooks that can be customized to meet your needs. One of the better websites that we like is http://www.ck12.org/.
This website has flexbooks available in a variety of formats: computer (online view), .pdf (computer and mobile view), Kindle, and iPad. With this kind of flexibility you can find or create a book for students on just about any subject.
Have you used flexbooks? Share your experience here!
This website has flexbooks available in a variety of formats: computer (online view), .pdf (computer and mobile view), Kindle, and iPad. With this kind of flexibility you can find or create a book for students on just about any subject.
Have you used flexbooks? Share your experience here!
Monday, July 16, 2012
Essential Apps for Your iPad
Once you have an iPad either for yourself or for your students the first thing you'll start to wonder is what apps to get. There are thousands of apps out there for educators, many of them are free. This is a list of apps that we cannot live without!
Splashtop remote/streamer - $1.99 - This allows you to cut the cord from your computer and move around the classroom with ease. You can access your computer from anywhere (even if you're not at school, provided your computer is on).
PowerTeacher - Free - Grading on the Go!
Edmodo - Free - Social Learning Management System App - access your edmodo account from anywhere.
MyBigCampus - Free - Social Learning Management System App - access your mybigcampus account from anywhere.
Khan Academy - Free - Practice, learn, watch anything
Google Search and Google Chrome - Free - both of these apps are free. Google Search gives you access to mobile google docs, your gmail and google drive. I have noticed that sometimes the google docs prefer to run only in the mobile version as opposed to the desktop version which limits some functionality of google docs. Google Chrome was recently released for Apple products, and runs a little slower than Safari, but still brings you all of the functionality of Google Chrome
OnLive Desktop - Free for basic usage up to 2GB - This is mobile cloud computing. It connects to you a virtual windows machine, which then gives you access to programs like Microsoft Word and Excel. You can create documents on your iPad, then access them anywhere, either through the app or via their website. For $4.99 a month you gain access to a powerful flash browser in addition to the ability to save your documents through Dropbox or Google Drive.
Dropbox - Free - This app gives you access to cloud storage. You can get more storage space by recommending it to your friends.
Wunderlist - Free - If you're like me, you live on lists. I end up with a list next to my school computer, one by my home computer and sticky notes everywhere else (both digital and physical). Wunderlist helps you keep track of everything that you need to do. You can even share your lists with your colleagues, this allows for collaborative projects to be completed.
iTunes U - Free - iTunes U allows you to create courses that are accessible to anyone with an apple product. You can create mini resources for your individual projects or classes. Students can also create mini units to teach each other.
Educreations and ShowMe - Free - this app turns your iPad into an interactive whiteboard, which is great if you have apple iTV which allows you to mirror to your projector or television. You can record lessons for later playback. These lessons can be sent to another teacher or students. Students love to create on this app. It's a nice way for students to show what they have learned.
WordPress and Blogger - If you have your classroom website through wordpress or blogger/blogspot these apps allow you to update your website quickly and easily.
Discovery HD / Nat Geo Today
What apps are you using? Join the Discussion. Do you have an Android tablet? Many of these apps are also available on the Android Google Play store as well.
Splashtop remote/streamer - $1.99 - This allows you to cut the cord from your computer and move around the classroom with ease. You can access your computer from anywhere (even if you're not at school, provided your computer is on).
PowerTeacher - Free - Grading on the Go!
Edmodo - Free - Social Learning Management System App - access your edmodo account from anywhere.
MyBigCampus - Free - Social Learning Management System App - access your mybigcampus account from anywhere.
Khan Academy - Free - Practice, learn, watch anything
Google Search and Google Chrome - Free - both of these apps are free. Google Search gives you access to mobile google docs, your gmail and google drive. I have noticed that sometimes the google docs prefer to run only in the mobile version as opposed to the desktop version which limits some functionality of google docs. Google Chrome was recently released for Apple products, and runs a little slower than Safari, but still brings you all of the functionality of Google Chrome
OnLive Desktop - Free for basic usage up to 2GB - This is mobile cloud computing. It connects to you a virtual windows machine, which then gives you access to programs like Microsoft Word and Excel. You can create documents on your iPad, then access them anywhere, either through the app or via their website. For $4.99 a month you gain access to a powerful flash browser in addition to the ability to save your documents through Dropbox or Google Drive.
Dropbox - Free - This app gives you access to cloud storage. You can get more storage space by recommending it to your friends.
Wunderlist - Free - If you're like me, you live on lists. I end up with a list next to my school computer, one by my home computer and sticky notes everywhere else (both digital and physical). Wunderlist helps you keep track of everything that you need to do. You can even share your lists with your colleagues, this allows for collaborative projects to be completed.
iTunes U - Free - iTunes U allows you to create courses that are accessible to anyone with an apple product. You can create mini resources for your individual projects or classes. Students can also create mini units to teach each other.
Educreations and ShowMe - Free - this app turns your iPad into an interactive whiteboard, which is great if you have apple iTV which allows you to mirror to your projector or television. You can record lessons for later playback. These lessons can be sent to another teacher or students. Students love to create on this app. It's a nice way for students to show what they have learned.
WordPress and Blogger - If you have your classroom website through wordpress or blogger/blogspot these apps allow you to update your website quickly and easily.
Discovery HD / Nat Geo Today
What apps are you using? Join the Discussion. Do you have an Android tablet? Many of these apps are also available on the Android Google Play store as well.
Saturday, July 7, 2012
Summer is a Time to Recharge Your Batteries...
...both figuratively and literally. Don't let your rechargeable batteries go unloved during the summer months. It's quite easy to leave everything packed up, and know that it will be there when you go back in the fall. With the extreme heat that many places have been having it is a good idea to make sure you don't have batteries sitting out or left in remotes that may be subject to these extreme temperatures.
Personally I like to change out my rechargeable batteries during the summer so that the ones that I use during the school year can get charged up again.
Personally I like to change out my rechargeable batteries during the summer so that the ones that I use during the school year can get charged up again.
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Welcome to My Blog!
This blog is a site dedicated to not only bringing resources to teachers attention, but also in showing you how you can use it in your classroom.
One of the most common things I am asked is, "How do you know all this stuff?" The easy answer is that I was raised with technology, much like our students are now. The more realistic answer will come out as the blog grows.
Thank you for your support and I hope that you can find some useful information here.
One of the most common things I am asked is, "How do you know all this stuff?" The easy answer is that I was raised with technology, much like our students are now. The more realistic answer will come out as the blog grows.
Thank you for your support and I hope that you can find some useful information here.
Embed Websites in PowerPoint
Have you ever linked a website through PowerPoint? Do you get tired of alt+tabbing and trying to find your place, both on the web, and on your presentation? It is possible to embed live websites, as you see them on your browser in PowerPoint. The plugin that allows you to do this is called LiveWeb.
If you have any trouble with this plugin, feel free to ask for help here. I'd be glad to help you!
If you have any trouble with this plugin, feel free to ask for help here. I'd be glad to help you!
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Digital Portfolios
You can use Evernote to create student digital portfolios. Here's a vimeo video by Junior School that explains more.
How to Create Student Digital Portfolios Using Evernote from Junior School on Vimeo.
I have created some videos to help teachers get started using Evernote and the Evernote webclipper which can now be found here.
How to Create Student Digital Portfolios Using Evernote from Junior School on Vimeo.
I have created some videos to help teachers get started using Evernote and the Evernote webclipper which can now be found here.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)